CAR: Red Cross limits activity in Nana-Grébizi prefecture February 12

Event

On Wednesday, February 12, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced that is has reduced humanitarian operations in Nana-Grébizi prefecture due to increasing crime in the region. ICRC workers in Kaga-Bandoro have been forced to limit movements and programs after armed individuals entered their residences on Thursday, February 6. The criminals stole items from the property and physically assaulted the guards. ICRC officials in the Central African Republic said that worker movement will be restricted until acceptable security conditions are restored. However, the organization will maintain its emergency services at the Kaga-Bandoro Hospital and the water supply for the displaced persons' site.

Further attacks targeting humanitarian aid organizations are possible over the near term.

Context

The Central African Republic (CAR) has suffered recurrent bouts of civil conflict since December 2012, which has led to hundreds of deaths and almost 700,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), and has pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Chad. Clashes between various armed groups continue to be reported, although a peace agreement between armed groups and the government was signed on February 6, 2019.

Advice

Individuals present in Nana-Grébizi prefecture are advised to monitor local developments, maintain a high degree of situational awareness, and remain vigilant for potential militant activity.

In general, a number of Western governments advise their citizens against travel to most of the east of the country for various security reasons, including the presence of armed groups.